Toothpicks

[madox07]

So i pick up one of my jars. I was feeling particular for this blend I have not touched in a while. The tobacco is not dry, on the contrary, but I keep finding some twigs in it. Sort of like very dried tobacco as hard as tooth picks. I don't like them in my pipe, I just throw them away but I wonder what they are ..

 

[cosmicfolklore]

What blend?

 

[madox07]

It's actually Dunhill Night Cap ...

 

[cosmicfolklore]

They are probably just leaf ribbons that dried harder than the rest, maybe the Latakia? Were they black?

 

[papipeguy]

Sounds like you have stems there.

 

[pagan]

..either or, both are possible

 

[madox07]

They are both black and brown. Although the black ones seem more stiff. I am also dissatisfied with the smoke. I am using my latakia English blend pipe, and I know it smokes well. But lately with this blend I cannot seem to pack it right. It is like I said very stiff and I seem to pack it to tight. It smokes well for a while and afterwards it heats the smoke and ruins it. Very wet at the bottom also ..

 

[madox07]

Hmmm ... picked up the same setup, this time was extra careful with picking and throwing away all the stems/dried ribbons ... smokes quite well. Do you think I stored the tobacco wrong, or was it something with this particular tin?

 

[lightmybriar]

I would say it is definitely stems. I find them in almost every tobacco. They are long, usually lighter colored, and very stiff and many times can impede the packing when they get too dry because they don't bend. I don't think it's anything you did. I would add though that I find dry ribbon cut more difficult to pack, since due to the lack of flexibility of the leaf, it feels like it's packed but there is a lot of space between the leaves and then it tends to smoke hot. That's my experience.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Stem bits. Dry your tobacco more before loading, tamp a touch more vigorously.

 

[skaukatt]

Sounds like stems, I find them often. I pick them out and discard.